The organisation's latest list shows hotspots in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town and Durban. We've included the full list of locations at the end of this article.

How prevalent is vehicle crime in SA? Carjacking has increased by 14.3% in all provinces, according to the 2015/16 annual crime survey released by the South African Police (SAPS). Carjacking was highest in Gauteng.

Justice Project South Africa chairman Howard Dembovsky says: "Year in and year out we see similar so-called 'hotspots' being published for all sorts of violent crimes and year in and year out, they seem to be in pretty much the same places, with the addition of one or a few new so-called 'hotspots'.

"We also see road traffic signs warning people at some hijacking and smash and grab “zones” (see Rivonia Road off-ramp from the N1 South). Surely this must raise the serious question of “if such hotspots exist, which I don’t deny they do, then what are our law enforcement authorities doing about it?”

"The answer appears to be that they are doing little more than telling us about increases in the prevalence of violent crime, instead of getting actively involved in crime prevention exercises; and that, I’m afraid, is simply not good enough! That said, motorists must be aware that driving requires all of your attention – all of the time. Distracted driving can have devastating consequences; whether you’re on the move or stationary at the traffic lights. WhatsApp, Twitter, etc. can wait until you’re safely inside at your destination."

Wheels24's Janine Van der Post has almost been the victim of two hijacking incidents, one in Johannesburg and one in Cape Town.

Van der Post said: "I was driving in convoy with some colleagues to a work function several years ago. I had stopped at a traffic light in Joburg CBD - behind another car - and these two guys approached the car and managed to somehow get the window down of the bakkie I was driving. It was storming so no one could hear me hoot or notice I was being held at gunpoint. Fortunately, I did something incredibly reckless - I fought back. In the end, all that was lost was a necklace."

"One evening at the corner of Modderdam Road and Stellenbosch Arterial near Belhar, close to Cape Town International Airport, three guys jumped out of the ditches and tried to get into the vehicle I was driving. Again I was lucky and this time could drive away because there were no on-coming cars.

"Always be alert of your surroundings. Turn down your music, lock the doors and keep the windows closed in dodgy or dangerous areas. If you know what's going on around you, you can react fast enough and not become a statistic."

Readers hotspots

Wheels24 readers shared crime hotspots they believe should be added to the map. While not verified by the NHPA, it's interesting to see the areas readers believe are prone to crime. We've included a list of the location as well as the original map below.

Hijacking hotspots: Click on view 'larger map' (far right icon) for more information

Voortrekker Road, Bellville, Parow • Voortrekker Road between Bellville and Parow.Military Road, Prince George Drive • Corner of Military Road and Prince George Drive.St Stephens Road • Be alert when driving along St Stephens Road.Alice Street, Voortrekker Road • Be alert when driving along Alice Street, especially near Voortrekker Road. Station Road • Be alert when travelling along Station Road.Klipfontein Road • Be alert when travelling along Klipfontein Road.Prestwich Road, Ebenhezer • The corner of Prestwich Road and Ebenhezer.Vanguard Drive • Be alert when travelling along Vangaurd Drive.R300, N1 • Beware when travelling on the R300 under the bridges towards the N1 highway.